Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what statutory responsibilities local authorities have for maintaining grass verges.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, as amended, to maintain the highways network for which they are responsible, including highway grass verges.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plan to remove the temporary permitted weight limit of 32 tonnes on volumetric concrete mixers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
There is no temporary permitted weight limit of 32 tonnes for volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs). 32 tonnes is the standard weight limit applicable to 4-axle rigid HGVs.
Following consultation in 2017, the Government implemented a temporary arrangement whereby a limited number of VCMs would be permitted to temporarily operate at weights higher than the standard 32 tonnes for vehicles of their design, using Vehicle Special Orders (VSOs). This was in recognition that, historically, some in the sector had operated VCMs at laden weights in excess of the 32-tonne limit. This temporary arrangement was put in place to allow time for the industry to adjust to the normal permitted weight limits over a reasonable timescale. It was not enacted as a step towards increasing permitted vehicle weights more widely.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of regional airports on restoring flights to long-haul destinations; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The government recognises the continued challenges faced by the aviation industry as we look towards reopening international travel further.
Ministers and officials engage regularly with the aviation industry, including with regional airports, and remain committed to working collaboratively to reopen international travel in a safe and secure way.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for the further electrification of railway lines; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
1110 miles of track in Great Britain have been electrified for passenger traffic from 2010 up to March 2020, compared to 63 miles between 1997 and 2010. Further electrification of the network will play an important role in our plans to decarbonise the railway, alongside the deployment of battery and hydrogen trains on some lines. The Department’s forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan will set out the government’s ambition for the scale and pace of rail decarbonisation between now and 2050.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with train manufacturers on meeting net-zero carbon emission targets through the use of green technologies.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Departmental ministers and officials meet with train manufacturers regularly and discuss decarbonisation and our net zero target.
As well as recent meetings with individual manufacturers, on 22 April I have supported the establishment of the Sustainable Rail Executive, and on 28 April I will be giving a speech at the Rail Industry Association Innovation Conference, where rail decarbonisation will be a key theme.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether driving (a) lessons and (b) tests can resume in Tier 3 areas from 2 December 2020.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Driving lessons resumed in all areas in England on 2 December 2020. Driving tests restarted in tier 1 and 2 areas in England on 2 December 2020, and in tier 3 areas on 3 December 2020 with additional mitigations. Theory tests restarted in all areas in England on 2 December 2020.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the importance of the aerospace sector to the UK's transport infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Aviation has a complex supply chain, with airports and airlines being the central nodes, aerospace supplying and maintaining the sector’s aircraft and engines, and other sectors providing services that facilitate operations, such as baggage handling, air traffic management and insurance. Before the COVID-19 crisis, the aviation sector contributed at least £22 billion to the UK economy annually and supported around half a million jobs spread across the UK, of which a significant proportion was in the aerospace sector.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Global Travel Taskforce plans to publish its recommendations.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Global Travel Taskforce, which is chaired by the Secretary of State for Transport, is due to submit its recommendations to the Prime Minister in November.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the level of covid-19 transmission on public transport; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advice has provided evidence of an enhanced risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 for both transport workers and passengers. This advice has been published on the government website and is titled ‘Transmission and Control of SARS-CoV-2 on Public Transport’.
To further advance our understanding of the transmission risk, the Department has worked with SAGE to develop the Transport Risk Assessment for COVID Knowledge (TRACK) research project. The Department has also commissioned other research projects, including working with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory on transmission risk in aviation.
As part of our Safer Transport Guidance we recommend that passengers reduce the risk of transmission by washing or sanitising their hands before and after using public transport, keeping 2m apart where possible and 1m if not, and wearing face coverings when travelling unless they are exempt. Transport operators also enforce this messaging with signs at transport hubs, and regular announcements at platforms and on public transport.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Network Rail plans to publish its Traction Decarbonisation Network strategy.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) Interim Programme Business Case was published by Network Rail in September 2020. No date has yet been agreed for further TDNS publications.